Otto Braun (poet)

Otto Braun (September 28, 1900 – April 15, 1918) was a German poet known for his precocious talent and early death in World War I.

Braun was born in Berlin to Heinrich Braun, a physician and social democrat, and Lily Braun, a socialist writer and feminist. His upbringing was steeped in intellectual and political discourse, influencing his development as a writer. He began writing poetry at a young age, demonstrating a remarkable maturity and sensitivity.

His poems often explored themes of nature, love, death, and social injustice. While influenced by expressionism, his work also possessed a unique lyrical quality and a deep sense of melancholy. He was considered a promising talent by many of his contemporaries.

Braun volunteered for military service in 1918 and was killed in action on the Western Front shortly thereafter, at the age of 17. His collected poems, published posthumously, offer a glimpse into the potential that was lost. Despite his short life, Otto Braun remains a notable figure in German literary history, representing the tragic impact of war on a generation of artists and intellectuals.